The Communique

Issue date: 8/18/08 Section: Feature

Media Credit: Keith Schoon Margaret Duffy serves students who come to the Information Booth to purchase basic school supplies, aspirin, stamps and the newspaper. She is also available to answer questions about the locations of various campus departments.

As hundreds of new students walk through the doors of Kirkwood Community College on the first day of school many questions will be asked. "Where is my classroom?" "Where's the bathroom?" "How do I get to the bookstore?" "Where can I get change for the vending machine?" Margaret Duffy who works at the Information Booth, located in the Linn Hall lobby, will be able to answer those questions.

"This is the most logical place to put the (information) booth because many people come into this building first," said Duffy. "I don't think people realize that this is just one building of many. When I tell them that they have to go up the hill to get to Iowa Hall, they look at me kind of funny."

The Information Booth is not only a place to get directions or information about the school layout, it is also a place to purchase pens, pencils, notebooks, gum, cough drops, aspirin, even postage stamps when a few minutes is all students have between classes. Duffy also refunds money if it is lost in a vending machine. She knows the right people to call if the ATM machine or copier breaks down, or if anything out of the ordinary should happen in the lobby. She has access to everyone at Kirkwood via telephone and computer.

"I get asked lots of different questions," Duffy added. "People come in wanting to know directions to businesses in Cedar Rapids or how to get to the Iowa City campus. It really varies as to the time of year. After the flood, we were asked a lot about where certain government offices were being relocated. It really helps to know these things," she said with a smile.

Looking at the booth that contains all the odds and ends that one would need in a hurry, it's hard to wonder what they don't sell. "It is pretty much just an extension of the bookstore. We used to have a display of sweat shirts and back packs but they made us discontinue that," Duffy said, pointing at the walls. Flyers and announcements have taken their place, though a pair of shorts and a ball cap with Kirkwood's logo still remain.

Duffy, who has worked at Kirkwood for almost 18 years, hasn't seen a lot of change over the years. "I have noticed that there are more older students now than when I started," she said, "but I love working with them all. It's a fun place and it keeps me young."

"I really love working here," said Duffy, "but I'm amazed that some students still don't know where the buildings are. Some have been here two years and still don't know where the library is." She is quick to add, "We have maps here, too."

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